Can-opener



(No Model.)

H. BERNTSEN.

CAN OPENER Patented Mar. 16, 1897.

W: uonms Prnzas on mam-urua, wasm litre ra'rns HANS BERNTSEN, OFCAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,086, dated March16, 1897. Application filed June 22,1896. Serial No. 596,452. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HANS BEnNTsEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain-new and useful Improvements inCan-Openers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to can-openers.

My object is to provide a simple and cheap can-opener which will beadapted for use in connection with cans of different diameter, and whichafter cutting out the top of the can will hold the same and prevent itfrom dropping back, to the injury of the contents of the can.

A further object is to provide a can-opener capable of use in otherconnections.

Having these objects in view my invention consists of a can-openercomprising certain novel features and combinations appearing more fullyhereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of myimproved can-openerg Fig. 2, a top plan view, and Fig. 3 an endelevation.

A designates a cylindrical shank, and B a handle formed in one piece.

The numeral 1 designates an elongated casing or housing which snuglyreceives shank A and is square in cross-section. A trowelshapedcan-openin g blade 2 is formed integral with the casing 1 and projectsfrom the lower face thereof, the right-hand edge of this cutting-bladebeing beveled, as at 3, and said bevel extending from the point of thecuttingblade upward for about half the length thereof. Thiscutting-blade is used in opening large cans, and when so employed blowsare directed on the top of the casing and a cut made around the outeredge of the can-top.

The numeral 4 designates a pivot-pin,which, together with itsscrew-threaded portion 5, is conical in shape. The screw-threadedportion of the pin is screwed through casing 1 and into shank A. It willbe observed that this pivot-pin is located at the central point of thelength of the shank. I employ two cutting-knives 6 and 7, which areduplicates.

The blades of these knives are triangular and provided with bevelededges 8 and 9. Each cutting-knife is provided with a base 10, whose endsproject over the sides of the easing, as at 11 and 12.

The numerals l3 and 14: designate cla1npin g-plates which are locateddiametrically op posite the cutting-knives. Sets of bolts 15 and 16,having heads 17 on their upper ends, pass through the projecting portionof the base of each cutting-knife and its respective clamping-plate.Adjusting thumb-nuts 1S and 19 are located on the lower ends of thebolts and serve to hold the clamping-plate and knife in position on thecasing. The respective cutting-knives are thus rendered adjustablelongitudinally of the casing and in relation to the pivot-pin, so that acircle of any desired diameter maybe cut, thereby rendering my improvedcan-opener applicable to cans of different sizes.

The can-opener is used in the following manner: If it is desired to makea clean circular cut, the cutting-knives are adjusted on the casingaccording to the diameter of the can. The pivot-pin is then forcedthrough the can-top at a central point thereof and the handle swungaround until the top has been cut through. As soon as this happens thetop is forced onto the tapering screw-threaded pin, where it is held andprevented from dropping back into the can, to the injury of the contentsthereof. The can-top can now be easily removed from the pivot-pin. Iflargesized cans have to be dealt with, the large cutting or openingblade is employedand used, as before described. This cutting-blade mayalso be employed as an ice pick or shaver or in any other connection,according to its adaptability.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

111 a can-opener, the combination with a handle flattened longitudinallyon opposite sides, of a threaded tapering pivot-pin provided with ablank portion and connected to the handle, said pin projecting from oneof the flattened sides thereof, cutting devices on opposite sides of thepivot-pin which comprise triangular cutting-knives having beveled edgesand bases extending in right-an- :0 of the bases and plates and situatedon opposite sides of the handle, and nuts on said bolts.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

HANS BERNTSEN.

WVitnesses:

SAMUEL JENNIsoN, H. A. CHESTER.

